NCERC Director to Participate In Congressional Ag Advisory Council

EDWARDSVILLE - NCERC at SIUE Director John Caupert will share his biofuels expertise during a joint Agriculture Advisory Board meeting hosted by U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) and U.S. Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.) next week in Decatur.

“This is an incredible opportunity for the Agriculture Advisory Boards of two sitting Congressmen to share ideas and opinions on critically important legislation, including the passage of a comprehensive Farm Bill,” Caupert said. “From the biofuels perspective, we are particularly invested in negotiating continued funding of biofuels research and development initiatives under the Farm Bill’s energy title.”

Caupert is frequently called upon by legislators in Washington D.C. and Springfield to testify on biofuels policy. In April, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), nominated Caupert to participate in a Senate Democratic Caucus briefing on the “Revitilization of Rural America.” He has served on Davis’ agriculture advisory board since its formation in January 2013.

“Congress continues to negotiate vital pieces of agriculture legislation that directly impact those who work and live in the 13th Congressional District and beyond,” Davis said. “My advisory board’s input helps shape my perspective on modern agriculture and allows me to better advocate for these important issues in the House Agriculture Committee and on the House floor.”

The joint board meeting will take place from 8:30 to 10 a.m. on Tuesday, August 27 at the National Sequestration Education Center at 3883 Howard Brown Blvd. on the campus of Richland Community College in Decatur.

The event is timed to coincide with the annual Farm Progress Show, the nation’s largest agriculture showcase. The 2013 show features more than 500 exhibitors and more than 300 acres of field demonstrations.

Photo caption: U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (Ill.-13) and NCERC at SIUE Director John Caupert after an April 2013 press conference at the Center to announce Davis’ Opportunity KNOCKS legislation.

About the NCERC The NCERC at SIUE is a nationally recognized research center dedicated to the development and commercialization of biofuels, specialty chemicals and other renewable compounds. The Center’s fully functional dry grind pilot plant and laboratories are equipped with advanced biofuels capabilities including corn fractionation, pretreatment, and a fermentation suite with 5, 30, 150 and 1500L scale-up. Facilities are staffed by industry veterans with more than 100 years of collective experience in fermentation and biofuels production. This knowledgeable team has the flexibility and expertise to design and carry out projects in any region of the advanced biofuels or specialty chemicals space. For more information, contact Courtney Breckenridge, (618) 659-6737 ext. 230, cbreckenridge@ethanolresearch.com, or visit http://www.ethanolresearch.com.

About SIUE Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) is a nationally recognized university dedicated to educating and developing professional and community leaders through its excellent faculty and academic programs. With a student-to-teacher ratio of 17-to-1, SIUE offers the advantages of a small, liberal arts college with the lowest tuition of all 12 state universities in Illinois. The emphasis on undergraduate education, complemented by faculty research, creates practical applications for student learning. In fall 2011, SIUE reached the largest overall enrollment in the history of the University with 14,235 students. In fiscal year 2011, SIUE faculty and staff received more than $34 million in grants and contracts for research, teaching and service initiatives. Only 25 minutes from downtown St. Louis, the SIUE campus is situated on 2,660 acres of beautiful woodland atop the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River's rich bottom land. SIUE has been shaping the future in the St. Louis Metro Area since 1957, offering quality undergraduate and graduate programs combined with a solid commitment to the economic development of Southwestern Illinois.